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Syrians, Iraqis archive IS jail crimes in virtual museum

After jihadists jailed him in 2014, Iraqi religious scholar Muhammad al-Attar said he would sometimes pull his prison blanket over his head to cry without other detainees noticing.

Asia, the world's economic engine, prepares for Trump shock

Some Asian countries stand to gain if US president-elect Donald Trump pushes ahead with his promised massive tariffs on China and triggers a new wave of factory relocations to the rest of the region.

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S. Korea's new president to teach 'rude boy' Kim Jong Un some manners

Threatening a pre-emptive strike, swiftly responding to missile tests, and telling "rude boy" leader Kim Jong Un to behave: South Korea's next president looks set to get tough on the nuclear-armed North, analysts say.

What would be the impact of a US 'digital dollar'?

US President Joe Biden has ordered the federal government to look into creating a digital dollar, a move with the potential to reshape how money is moved and used around the world.

'We understand': Refugees pray for Ukraine at Bosnian pilgrimage site

Far from home, Mariana Sova could only pray for Ukraine and an end to the war from a Catholic pilgrimage site in southern Bosnia where she had found safe haven from the fighting.

Crufts dog show returns after Covid break and Brexit

Tens of thousands of dogs and their owners are expected for the return of the world's biggest dog show on Thursday, as Crufts makes a comeback after a two-year absence.

Top Russia, Ukraine diplomats arrive in Turkey for talks

The foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine have arrived in Turkey for face-to-face talks set for Thursday morning, officials said, in the first high-level contact between the two sides since Moscow invaded its ex-Soviet neighbour.

Germany in a quandary over Russian energy

Germany has rejected a complete ban on Russian gas and oil imports over Russia invading Ukraine, but voices are growing louder for Berlin to ditch its economic imperative to take a moral stand.

Ukraine crisis to dominate EU leaders' Versailles summit

EU leaders will scramble Thursday to find ways to urgently address the fallout of Russia's invasion of Ukraine that has imperilled the bloc's economy and exposed a dire need for a stronger defence.

Letting state TV dominate, Russia chokes free media

Russia has moved to throttle independent media after its invasion of Ukraine, allowing state television to dominate the airwaves with broadcasting that relentlessly promotes Russian successes and carefully toes the Kremlin line.

Paralympic chief left waiting after Beijing censored anti-war speech

The International Paralympic Committee president said Thursday he is still waiting for China's state broadcaster to explain the apparent censorship of his forceful anti-war speech at the opening of the Beijing Winter Games, nearly a week on.

Turkmenistan readies for father-son succession during polls

Authoritarian Turkmenistan is quietly preparing for a father-son power transition during a presidential election on Saturday as the world reels and markets jangle over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Fury at 'barbaric' attack on Ukraine children's hospital

International leaders and Ukraine accused Russia of a "barbaric" attack on a children's hospital in the besieged city of Mariupol, as civilians continued to bear the brunt of the conflict two weeks into Moscow's invasion.

Australia to boost defence force by nearly a third

Australia will boost its defence forces by some 30 percent by 2040, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Thursday, describing it as the country's largest military build-up in peacetime.

Worried of 'high risk,' US nixes Polish jet offer to Ukraine

The Pentagon on Wednesday conclusively rejected as too "high risk" a plan to transfer fighter jets from Poland to Kyiv to battle Russian forces, pouring cold water for now on Ukraine's bid for more firepower in the skies.

US energy secretary's plea to oil majors: 'we need more supply'

With oil prices high and Americans paying more for gasoline, US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on Wednesday called for oil companies to increase production and offset the spike in pump prices.

Outcry at air strike on Ukraine children's hospital

An apparent Russian air strike destroyed a children's hospital in the besieged Ukrainian port of Mariupol on Wednesday, triggering renewed global outrage two weeks into Moscow's invasion of its ex-Soviet neighbour.

Ukraine health system 'engulfed' by war: WHO

The war with Russia has sparked a health crisis in Ukraine, the World Health Organization warned Wednesday, decrying at least 18 verified attacks on health care facilities and personnel.

Russian tanks advance towards Kyiv from east

At a deserted service station on the motorway northeast of Kyiv, a Ukrainian officer warns: "Don't go any further. The Russians are over there."

Anti-feminist political novice: South Korea's new president Yoon

South Korea's new president-elect is a political novice who shot to public attention as a prosecutor for his uncompromising investigations into some of the country's most high-profile corruption scandals.

Outside New York, a warehouse becomes rear base for Ukraine aid

In a large warehouse near New York, dozens of volunteers and workers open, sort and tape up boxes -- in a hurry.

US veterans sick after burn pit exposure want recognition -- and compensation

Back in 2006, US National Guard sergeant Heath Robinson oversaw the burning of waste at a military base in Iraq.

Air strike on Ukraine hospital sparks uproar on eve of talks

An apparent Russian air strike destroyed a paediatric and maternity hospital in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol on Wednesday, triggering global outrage.

Conservative Yoon wins tight South Korean presidential race

The opposition conservative Yoon Suk-yeol has won South Korea's presidential election, Yonhap reported early Thursday, propelling a political novice and avowed anti-feminist to the helm of Asia's fourth largest economy.

Britain urges all G7 members to ban Russia oil imports

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on Wednesday called on the entire G7 to ban Russia oil imports, saying the world's leading economies should "go further and faster" in punishing Moscow for invading Ukraine.

Two years on, WHO warns pandemic 'far from over'

The pandemic is far from over, the WHO's leader insisted Wednesday, two years after he first used the term to wake the world up to the emerging threat of Covid-19.

Spain an option as EU tries to cut reliance on Russian gas

With its undersea pipeline links to Algeria and vast network of liquified natural gas terminals, Spain is well placed to help Europe reduce its dependence on Russian gas imports.

'We will win': Ukraine families mourn their fallen soldiers

"My sunshine, my little one, we are going to win," sobs a woman, stroking the wooden coffin.

Stocks rebound, oil falls in volatile trading

US and European stocks surged on Wednesday while oil fell after days of market turmoil over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Biden orders work to begin on future digital dollar

President Joe Biden on Wednesday ordered government agencies to begin work on creating a digital US dollar, weighing the risks and benefits of a move that could be a game changer for the global financial system.

Israel's president on landmark Turkey trip to 'restart' ties

Israel's president met with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Wednesday, in the first visit by an Israeli head of state to Turkey since 2007, as the countries seek to mend fractured ties.

Turkey hosts top Russia, Ukraine diplomats in bid for peace

The Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers will Thursday hold face-to-face talks in southern Turkey in the first high-level contact between Kyiv and Moscow since Russia invaded its neighbour two weeks ago.

Canada pledges more military gear for Ukraine

Canada will send an additional $50 million worth of military equipment to help Ukraine in the fight against Russia, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday in Berlin.

'Brothers forever': many in Serbia back Russia amid global outcry

Amid the thunder of pro-Russian slogans and anti-NATO chants in the streets of Serbia's capital Belgrade, Marko Vezmar was unrepentant in his support for President Vladimir Putin and the invasion of Ukraine.

Davos cold shoulders Russians over Ukraine war invasion

The World Economic Forum said Wednesday it was freezing all relations with Russian entities, and would not allow anyone on the sanctions list to take part in the annual high-powered meeting in Davos.

South Korea's two presidential candidates in tight race as polls close

A scandal-plagued liberal and an anti-feminist conservative were locked in a dead heat Wednesday in the race to become South Korea's next president, with exit polls showing the two leading candidates less than a percentage point apart.

China to provide Ukraine about $790,000 in aid: official

Beijing said Wednesday it will provide war-torn Ukraine with about $790,000 in humanitarian aid, with the first shipment already on its way, though China has yet to condemn Russia's invasion of the country.

Ireland offers leukaemia treatment hopes for young Ukrainian boy

Five-year-old Leonid Shapoval had been due to have a bone marrow transplant to treat life-threatening leukaemia this week, but Russia's invasion of Ukraine forced his family to flee.

Urban warfare 'nightmare' looms if Russia enters Ukraine cities

The next step in Russia's invasion of Ukraine could lead to urban warfare, an immense challenge for even numerically superior armies with deadly consequences for civilians caught up in the fighting, experts say.

Heineken, Universal Music join Russia exodus

Dutch brewer Heineken and Universal Music Group have become the latest Western firms to halt operations in Russia over Moscow's war in Ukraine.

IS suicide bomber of Pakistan mosque was Afghan: police

An Islamic State (IS) suicide bomber who killed 64 people at a Shiite mosque in northwest Pakistan last week was an Afghan exile who returned home to train for the attack, police said Wednesday.

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